Motor



Patented Feb. 26,1895.

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n Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. W. FRENCH. MOTOR.

"No. 534,871. Patented Feb. 26,1895.

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A TTOHNEYS.

WILLIAM WVALTER FRENCH, OF FORT BRANCH, INDIANA.

MOTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 534,871, dated February 26, 1895. Application filed June 15,194. Serial lie-514,695. (N0 model.)

FRENCH, of Fort Branch, in the county of Gibson and State of Indiana, have invented a new and Improved Motor, of,which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to motors set in action by a direct application of heat.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved motor which is comparatively simple and durable in construction, very effective in operation, and arranged to utilize the directly applied heat to the fullest advantage, so that the motor can be run very economically.

The invention consists principally of two bands alternately subjected to heat for expanding the bands, the latter being connected at their ends with springs in such a manner that when one band is expanded it releases its hold on the springs, while the other band receives the full pressure of the springs.

The invention also consists in certain parts and details, and combinations of the same, as will be hereinafter fully described and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is asectional side elevation of the improvement, on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2. Fig.

2 is a transverse section of the same, on the line 2'-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a reduced side elevation of the motor as applied for driving machinery; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the band joint. f

The improved motor is provided with a suitably constructed base A, on which are erected the standards A and A in which is journaled a shaft B, on which is mounted to rotate loosely a wheel C, formed with a rim 0 supported on spider sides 0 engaging the said shaft B. The Wheel 0 is provided with an expanding and contracting rim exterior to the rim 0, and this rim is preferably made by sets of metallic bands, the sets D D and D D being arranged one alongside the other, as will be readily understood by reference to the drawings.

The sets of bands are subjected to heat emanating from burners E E, of any approved construction, and connected with a suitable source'of supply, preferably gas, furnished through a pipe E and the said burners open -into a hood F extending on one side of the wheel 0, and being segmental in shape to permit the sets of bands to pass in and out of the hood on the rotating of the Wheel 0. The ends of the band D pass over pulleys G, journaled in suitable bearings in the sides or spiders C of the wheel, and over similar pulleys G pass the ends of the band D belonging to the first set of bands D D. The other set of bands D D likewise passover sets of pulleys G G respectively, but the said sets of pulleys are arranged alternately with the pulleys G, G, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 1.

The ends of the bands D, D after passing over the adjusting pulleys G G, connect with links D D respectively, held in the middle of the outer leaves of elliptical springs H, II, respectively attached at the middle of their inner leaves to rods H secured in the sides 0 of the wheel 0. The ends of the other set of bands D D are similarly connected by links with springs H H attached at their inner leaves to rods I-I held in the sides of the wheel 0.

The several bands D, D, D D are supported intermediate of their respective pulleys on posts I, set in the periphery of the rim 0, and the said bands are connected at their middle by inwardly extending links J, J, J J with levers K, K, K K respectively, fulcrumed at K in the sides of the wheel 0, as plainly indicated in the drawings. Each link is provided with a turn-buckle J or other suitable means for increasing or decreasing .the length of the link, to properly adjust the same and the bands relative to the levers K, The latter are connected by links L, L, L L respectively with a disk N, held loosely on a crank arm B on the shaft B previously mentioned, and on which the Wheel 0 rotates. The bands D, D, D and D are preferablyjointed by hinged links D at each angle or hearing on the posts I and links J, J as will be understood by reference to Fig. 4.

'NoW it will be noticed that the bands D, D connect at their ends with the same springs H or H, but the bands connect by independent links J, J. with separate levers K, K, 10-

cated opposite each other and connected with the disk N on opposite sides. When the band D, for instance, is subjected to heat emanating from the burners E, E, in the hood F, then the said band expands and consequently releases its hold on the springs H, H, so that the full closing power of the said springs is exerted on the ends of the band D, whereby a pressure is exerted by the said band D on the link J, so that the latter imparts a swinging motion to the lever K, and by the link L pulls on the disk N, so as to cause arotation of the wheel 0 in the direction of the arrow a. As the wheel 0 rotates in the direction indi cated, the band D passes out of the heat and commences to cool and contract, while the other band D moves into the hood, to be subjected to the heat and to expand so that it releases its pull on the springs H, H, whereby the power of the latter is transferred to the band D, and the latter now acts by its link J, lever K and link L in the manner previously described with reference to the link J, lever K, and link L to turn the wheel O in the direction of the arrow a. A similar operation takes place with the bands D D Thus they are alternately subjected to heat, to expand and to feel the closing power of their springs on the opposite side which is then out of the heat, and has sufficiently cooled to be in a normal condition and to receive the pull of the spring.

In order to reverse the wheel 0, or to change its speed the following device is provided: On one end of the shaft B is secured or formed an arm B provided with a knob B havinga projecting point adapted to engage one of a series of apertures B arranged in a segmental plate 13 attached to the standard A, as plainly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Now, by the operator removing the point of the knob B from one of the apertures B", and then turning the arm B into a different position, the shaft B is turned and consequently the position of its crank arm B is changed relative to the hood F, or the point from which the heat is applied on the bands D, D, D D as previously described. By this arrangement the operator is enabled to throw the crank arm B either to the right or to the left, so that the pulling power exerted on the disk N, by the levers as previously described, permits of running the motor either in the direction of the arrow at or in the inverse direction thereof. By placing the pointed knob in an intermediate position on the apertured segmental plate H", a reduced speed can be given to the wheel 0, as the pulling power of the levers K, &c., is decreased according to the position of the disk N.

In order to transmit the rotary motion of the wheel 0 to the machinery to be driven, I preferably provide one side of the wheel 0 with a pulley 0, over which passes a belt 0, also passing over a pulley O secured on a shaft P, journaled in suitable bearings arranged in standards A attached to the base A. A fly wheel Qis also secured on the shaft P, to permit of running the motor at a uniform speed, and with sufficient momentum to overcome any obstruction.

It is understood that only one set of bands I) D or D D is necessary for properlyrunning the machine, but by employing two or more such sets of bands, the machine will run with greater ease.

The motor as constructed is self-governing, as in case there is an obstruction to overcome and the machine begins to slacken its speed, then the bands on one side of the machine remain a little longer in the heat emanating from the burners E E so as to increase their expansion, while the opposite band correspondingly responds and almost instantly exerts a greater pull so as to rotate the wheel to carry the motor past the obstruction. The speed however, is checked again after the obstruction is passed, by a reverse process, that is, the bands pass through the heat so quickly that they do not expand sufficiently to keep the motor going at that rate, and consequently a reduction of the speed will take place. The bands enter the hood in a relaxed state, owing to the position of the disk N, held concentric relative to the action of the wheel 0, so that there is practically no tension on the bands while they are heated, and hence there is no danger of the bands breaking in case the machine stops with the bands subjected to heat.

It will further be seen that by the arrangement described, the burners supplying the necessary amount of heat remain stationary, and yet every part of the bands is brought in contact with the heat in a very effective manner, as the wheel 0 revolves and the bands pass through the hood F.

If desired, other means besides the air can be employed for cooling the hands after they pass out of the heat on leaving the hood F, but I have found by experiment that a very great reduction in the temperature of the bands is not desirable.

It is understood that the springs H, H, H H are necessary to establish a yielding connection between the bands and levers, so as to prevent the bands from breaking, and to take up the slack of the bands until the running temperature is reached. After the machine reaches its running temperature, the springs remain practically motionless until the machine is suddenly checked, in which case the bands, not being able to pull the wheel as fast as it contracts, causes a stretching of the springs, and if it were not for the latter, the bands would break.

The strength of the motor is limited only by the strength of the bands and springs. It will further be seen that by shortening the supporting links J, &c.,any degree of amplification of the motion may be obtained, and this too, without the interposition of levers. It is further understood that the object in having the levers K, K, K K is to permit of more acute angles in the bands at the connection with their links, so that they will be equal to the angles made by the posts I, and be brought in the same proximity to the heat. Working in this manner the eccentricity of the wheel would have to be too slight to work advantageously withouttheamplifyinglevers.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a motor, the combination of two bands alternately subjected to heat, springs connected at their ends with the said bands in such a manner that when one band is expanded by the heat it releases its hold on the springs while the other band receives the full tension of the springs and means for transmitting the power derived from the said bands, substantially as shown and described.

2. A motor, comprising two bands alternately subjected to heat, springs connected at their ends with the said bands in such a manner that when one band is expanded by the heat it releases its hold on the springs while the other band receives the full tension of the springs, and means, substantially as described, for transmitting the power derived from the bands, as set forth.

3. A motor, provided with a wheel mounted to turn and connected with the machinery to be driven, the said wheel being mounted to rotate loosely on a shaft having a crank arm, bands forming an auxiliary rim for the said wheel and alternately subjected to heat, springs held in the wheel and connected at their ends with the said bands in such a manner that when one band is expanded by the heat it releases its hold on the springs while the other band receives the full tension of the springs, and means for transmitting the power derived from the bands to the wheel to impart rotary motion thereto, substantially as shown and described.

4. A motor, provided with a wheel mounted to turn and connected with the machinery to be driven, the said wheel being mounted to rotate loosely on a shaft having a crank arm, bands forming an auxiliary rim for the said wheel and alternately subjected to heat, springs held in the wheel and connected at their ends with the said bands in such a manner that when one band is expanded by the heat it releases its hold on the springs while the other band receives the full tension of the springs,1inks connected with the said bands, levers connected with the said links and fulcrumed in the said wheel, a second set of links connected with the levers, and a disk held on the crank arm of the said shafts, substantially as shown and described.

5. A motor, comprising a shaft having a crank arm and adapted to be turned and locked in position, a wheel mounted to rotate loosely on the said shaft and connected with machinery to be driven, bands forming an auxiliary rim for the said wheel and adapted to be heated, springs held on the said wheel and connected with the ends of the same bands, so that when one band is expanded by the heat it releases its hold on the springs while the other band receives the full tension of the springs, and means, substantially as described, for connecting the bands with the said crank arm on the shaft, as set forth.

6. A motor, comprising a shaft having a crank arm and adapted to be turned and locked in position, a wheel mounted to rotate loosely on the said shaft and connected with machinery to be driven, bands forming an auxiliary rim for the said wheel and adapted to be heated, springs held on the said wheels .and connected with the ends of the same bands, so that when one band is expanded by the heat it releases its hold on the springs while the other band receives the full tension of the springs, pulleys journaled 011 the said wheel and over which pass the said bands, posts held on the rim of the wheel and connecting the said bands, links pressed on by the said bands, levers fulcrumed on the wheel and pivotally connected with the said links, a second set of links connected withthe said levers, and a disk connected with the second set of links and mounted loosely on the crank arm of the said shaft, substantially as shown and described.

7. A motor, comprising a shaft having a crank arm, a disk held loosely on the said crank arm, a wheel mounted to rotate loosely on the said shaft, bands forming an auxiliary rim for the said wheel, springs connected with the ends of the said bands, means for connecting the bands with the said disk on the crank arm, and a hood through which the said bands pass on the revolving of the said wheel, the said hood containing burners for imparting heat to the bands, substantially as shown and described.

8. A motor, comprisinga pivoted body, thermostatic bands carried by the body and means for transmitting power derived from the thermostatic bands to the body for imparting motion thereto, substantially as described.

9. A motor, comprising a wheel, thermostatic bands carried by the wheel and means for transmitting power derived from the bands to the wheel for imparting a rotary motion thereto, substantially as described.

10. A motor, comprising a wheel, thermostatic bands on the peripheryof the wheel, an eccentrically mounted disk within the wheel, springs interposed between the said bandsand disk and means for connecting the bands with the disk for causing them to alternately exert a pull on the said disk, substantially as de scribed.

11. In a motor, the combination of a pivoted body, thermostatic bands carried by the body, a tension device connected with the ends of the bands and means for transmitting the power obtained by the contraction and expansion of the said bands, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. A motor, comprising a wheel, thermostatic bands on the periphery of the wheel, a

tension device with which the ends of the bands are connected, and mechanism for operating the Wheel from the said bands, substantially as described.

13. A motor, comprising a wheel, thermostatic bands on the periphery of the wheel, a tension device with which the ends of the bands are connected, an eccentrically mounted disk within the wheel, and means for connecting the bands with the disk for causing 1o them to alternately exert a pull on the said disk, substantially as described.

WILLIAM WALTER FRENCH. Witnesses:

O. F. GARRISON, PETER HOFFMAN. 

